Tag Archive | tithing

Sleep Time, Dream Time, Rest Time!

Apr6

Last week Friday, April 1st, I tried an experiment on myself and took notice that for every 3 minutes of sleep time, I actually dreamed for 1 minute.  Every time I opened my eye,s I documented the time.  Three times in a row, I dozed off to sleep and woke up exactly 3 minutes later.  During each of those 3 minutes of sleep time, I watched a 1 minute video in my dream and would wake up.

INCREDIBLE!  I am FASCINATED by time and numbers!  

Sleep Time (min.) Dream Time (min.)
3 1
30 10
45 15
60 20
180 60

Based upon that experiment, I got to pondering:  if we are actually “resting” during dream time, 3 hours of sleep time (180 minutes) would BE equal to 1 hour of rest time (60 minutes).  This would mean in order for us to achieve 8 hours of rest in a full day, we’d need 24 hours of sleep time.  Hmmm!

THINKING OUT LOUD:  And who is literally going to sleep for 24 hours?

Sleep Time (hours) Rest Time (hours)
3 1
6 2
12 4
18 6
24 8

However, it’s been noted via sleep studies and other testings that REM sleep makes up 25% of our sleep cycle.  In this cycle, our brain and bodies are rejuvenated and dreaming occurs.  So then, I got to pondering:  if we are sleeping for 3 hours, we’ve actually experienced 45 minutes of rest time, rejuvenation, dream time.    

Sleep Time (hours) Rest Time – Dream Time (hours)
3 :45
6 1.5
12 3
18 4.5
24 6

Based on this supposition, many of us (including myself) are not honoring our brain and bodies.  We are abusing ourselves by not giving to ourselves an acceptable allocation of honorable rest (not sleep) time.  Studies indicate that based on the age group of my household, we need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per day cycle.  This means that our brains and bodies will receive 2 to 2 hrs. and 30 minutes of rest per day.  

If in fact there are 24-hours in a day cycle, a tithe of a day would BE 2.4 hours, also noted as 144 minutes, also noted as  2 hrs. and 24 minutes.  Can we devote a tenth of our time, 2 hrs. and 24 minutes, to rest by getting adequate sleep?  

I’m certainly going to start this manner of devotion and for this reason:  I need to honor my temple, not just my body as in flesh and bones.  But, my body as in my brain, my neurological system, my heart, my lungs, etc.  Doing this is critical and will make me equally emotionally, physically, and spiritually healthy.  

Sleep Time!  Dream Time!  Rest Time! 

©2016 Angela M. Smith    

BE Benevolent!

May22

This word has been scrolling across my head for three days.  I’ve heard this word, particularly in Christian ministries, that are called ‘churches’, and they have what is called Benevolence Funds.

The origin of the word and the foundation of its meaning are well-wishing; organized to do good things for other people; kind and generous.   When people are in dire need, many of them expect the religious businesses to do good things for them; to help them up from the mire.  After all, this is what many of us have been taught that these ministry businesses are supposed to do.  At times disconcerting, but yet truthfully true, these businesses are not ‘organized’ to BE BENEVOLENT.  This is not their mission and vision.  SELAH!

Thus, some will establish non-profit organizations to provide a service to assist you, i.e., halfway houses funded by philanthropists and world agencies, child care services funded by state programs, homes for teenage parents and domestic violence victims funded by foundations and the criminal justice system, and counseling centers for those who are addicted to various vices paid for by your insurance company.  I am no against these entities, because they do assist people in great manifestations.  On the other hand thought, many of these established ‘charitable’ organizations require you to invest (co-pays, sliding scale fees, payment plans, etc.) in their generosity towards and for you.

BUT HOW IS IT PERFECTLY CHARITABLE IF THEY ARE SEEING A RETURN?

 I do believe that people should BE BENEVOLENT.  And, I believe they should BE this with wisdom and without expectation from anyone except the LORD.  So, with resolution that is built on the Chief Cornerstone, in this manner I encourage you (those of you who truly need assistance):  do not hold these ministry businesses responsible to help you or hold them captive when they are not charitable towards you.  They are simply not organized (set-up, established, instituted) to do that.  Pray that the LORD directs you to the ones who are organized (structured, well-regulated, and inherently able) to GIVE, to do good things for you, and to BE kind and generous to you.  Your investment will be to owe them nothing but to love them.

To BE BENEVOLENT is a lifestyle.  Today… I choose, again, to BE.  SELAH!

© 2015 Angela M. Smith